Federation of State Physician Health Programs

Federation of State Physician Health Programs

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Alabama


Demographics and staff - member
Program Name: Alabama Physician Health Program
Address: 19 South Jackson St, Montgomery, AL  36104
Telephone:  (334) 954-2596
Fax:  (334) 954-2593
E-mail:   alabamaphp@usa.net
Web site: www.alabamaphp.org

Staff:

  • Gregory E. Skipper, MD, FASAM, Medical Director
  • James Alford, MD, Assistant Medical Director
  • Bobby Brock, Case Manager
  • Fay McDonnell, Program Coordinator

Program structure

  1. The program is operated by:
    • State medical association
  2. Do you have a formal contractual relationship with the state medical board? Yes
    • Board contracts with Medical Association of the State of Alabama as a base from which to run the program and is very supportive of the program. Board allows confidential referrals, and only "Level III" Relapses (i.e. relapses in the context of medical practice) are reported to the board.

Program services

  1. Types of disease, illness, or conditions monitored:
    • Chemical dependence as well as other psychiatric disorders
    • Professional Sexual Misconduct
    • Physical illness
    • Neurologic Disorders, and other problems related to physician health and wellbeing
  2. Services provided to which populations:
    • Physicians - MD
    • Physicians - DO
    • Families of physicians
    • Medical students
    • Residents
    • Physician assistants
    • Veterinarians
    • Licensed Vet Techs
    • Vet Students

Funding
Please indicate the primary sources of funding for your program:

  • State licensing agency
  • Malpractice insurance companies
  • Hospitals and private contributions
  • Participant fees

Monitoring requirements

Chemical dependency

  1. Length of contract: 5 years or as recommended by evaluation and/or treatment team.
  2. Random urine drug screen frequency: Once per week x 6 mo then 1 per month x 4.5 years, or as recommended by evaluation and/or treatment team
  3. Support (self help) group requirements: as recommended by evaluation/treatment team but typically involves the following:
    • AA
    • NA
    • Caduceus
    • Professionally facilitated
    • Other: psychotherapy
  4. Support (self help) group frequency:
    • Year 1: 3 times per week
    • Year 2: 3 times per week
    • Year 3: 3 times per week
  5. Therapy or treatment requirement: Per instruction of treatment provider with input from medical director of AHPH
  6. Work or practice monitor requirement: Per instruction of treatment provider
  7. Other provisions: Worksite monitor

Mental health

  1. Length of contract: varies as recommended by evaluation/treatment provider
  2. Support (self help) group requirements: as recommended
  3. Support (self help) group frequency: as recommended
  4. Therapy or treatment requirement: directed by mental health treatment provider
  5. Work or practice monitor requirement: as needed
  6. Other provisions: as needed
  7. Please describe any other monitoring services provided: as needed, committee monitor (quarterly), worksite monitor, therapeutic monitoring groups, hair analysis, naltrexone: all participants in drug test monitoring for chemical dependence receive at least one hair test randomly per year. Many other facts to program.